Falling Hard

Chapter 1: Realization

Harry waited patiently for Hermione to show up, it was his birthday and for the first time in her life Hermione was late. And Harry was getting steadily nervous, he had realized recently that he was in love with his best friend and decided that his birthday was the day to tell her.

The Weasley’s were throwing him a birthday party at the Burrow for his 21st year. He was thankful, but found himself waiting for Hermione to fill that empty void she could fill with just her presence.

There was a flash of light from across the room where the fireplace is located. He practically ran to it and swept Hermione into his arms and placed his head in the crock of her shoulder, inhaling deeply. She laughed loudly.

“Harry, it’s so good to see you! Happy birthday! I’m so sorry I’m late. Teddy and Victoire decided to be difficult and hide all of their clothes.” She gestured down and Harry saw the two bright faced three year olds holding onto Hermione’s legs.

“It’s okay, I’m just glad you’re here. I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to make it.” He flushed a little but was interrupted when Hermione’s attention was diverted.

“Mommy.” Two children called as the tugged on her skirt.

The entire room grew quiet, they looked in Hermione’s direction and waited. Hermione flushed a bright pink, not sure what they expected her to say.

“They just started calling me that a few weeks ago. You remember how I told you all I got them to call me auntie, well when Victoire called Bill dad, Teddy decided it was only fair he call me mum. Than Victoire got jealous and started calling me mum as well. Teddy still calls Harry dad though.” Hermione explained while using her hands to gesture down to the children.

No body was paying attention to what she was saying. Their attention was completely directed to her left hand, there sparkling on her finger was an engagement band. A modest diamond set simply on a gold band.

Immediately everyone began congratulated Harry and telling him it was about time. While all he could do was gap because he knew that he didn’t propose to her, that he was planning on asking her out today.

Finally they began to realize one by one that neither Hermione or Harry were accepted their congratulations and Bill’s arm was now securely around her waist. Hermione smiled sheepishly.

“What is going on here?” Mrs. Weasley’s voice carried throughout the house.

“Well, Bill asked me to marry him yesterday and I accepted,” Hermione gulped, “but I didn’t want to ruin Harry’s party with the announcement of our engagement.”

Bill raised her hand and smiled proudly, everyone was at a lose of what to do. So they began to clap uncomfortably, all the while Harry stood there with his mouth wide open. He lost his chance, Hermione was getting married and he could do nothing about it.

He gulped, “Congratulations.” Harry extended his hand to Bill and he accepted it with a smile. Which made Hermione’s smile that much bigger, she looked so happy.

For the rest of the night Harry went through his party like he was another person looking in. He was stuck in a rut, and he didn’t know what to do. Harry had already planned on telling her and now he wasn’t sure what he should do. All of his plans were for nothing because he couldn’t make her unhappy. If Hermione was happy that Harry didn’t want to ruin it.

So he did the only thing he could do, he got pissed drunk. By the end of the party Harry could barely stand up.

Ron watched Harry pitifully. “Come on Harry, I’ll take you back to your flat.”

“But I’m not ready yet. I can still remember my name.” Harry’s voice slurred out. He looked up at Ron with watery eyes.

“Oh mate, what am I gonna do with you?” Ron explained as he flooed to his and Harry’s apartment.

“Tell me why.”

“Why what?”

“Why H-Her-Hermione had to be en-eng-with Bill and why she doesn’t love me?” Harry gurgled on a few of his words together.

“I don’t know why Harry.” Ron placed a solemn hand on Harry’s shoulder. “There is nothing to say about it.”

“Tell me what to do.”

“I can’t. Maybe if you had let Hermione know how you felt before it was too late than she would be with you.” Ron explained as Harry removed his clothes and fell onto the bed.

“How would I tell her?”

Ron didn’t say anything for a good few minutes because he didn’t want to make it worse. Harry already felt bad enough; which is the reason why he had gotten pissed drunk in the first place. “What I meant was that you tell Hermione before she got engaged to Bill.”

“But I can’t now, and I want to know how to get her now. I need her to see how I really feel about her. Or I’ll never get over her.” Harry’s words were getting more scrambled and almost impossible to understand.

“I know, but if you had wanted to tell her before I would have proven to her that how you felt was sincere and heartfelt. So she would understand that you guys were meant to be together,” Ron explained. Giving Harry a summarized version of what he did to get Luna.

“You’re right.”

“I am?” Ron asked surprised.

“Yeah, I’m going to show Hermione exactly how I feel. Than there will be no way she wont love me back.” Harry’s words slurred more as his eyes began to droop.

Ron’s eyes widened considerably, he didn’t know what he had done. “No, Harry that isn’t what I meant,” but when Ron looked at Harry was no longer listening. He was lost to dreamland.

He shook his head. “Harry, if you had just told her how you felt only two weeks ago she would be yours now. You have no idea how much she has loved you. Why do you think she wouldn’t have me? Now I don’t know if she’ll believe you, and I can’t choose sides. On one side is my older brother and on the other is my best mate.”

Ron was talking out loud to himself, unbeknownst to him Harry had heard every word.